Prince of Darkness "Ozzy Osbourne Dies" at 76

Ozzy Osbourne, the iconic frontman for Black Sabbath and a successful solo artist who became known as the "Prince of Darkness," has died, according to reports early Tuesday, July 22. It arrived just weeks after what turned out to be his last show, an emotionally charged homecoming concert at Villa Park in Birmingham, England. Perched on a throne, frail but unbroken, Ozzy roared a final farewell to the city of his newborn cry, to its stage of his first roar.

Ozzy died peacefully, surrounded by family and holding the hands of his loved ones as he transitioned to be with his other loved ones; "Our beloved Charlie is a peaceful soul.". The statement: It is 'with the heaviest of hearts' that we announce that our beloved Charlie has passed away this morning, his family wrote on Instagram. "He was with his family, with lots of love. We appreciate the support and prayer and ask for no more than our privacy during this difficult time."

The heavy metal legend, born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham on December 3, 1948, went from working-class roots to becoming a global rock superstar. With Black Sabbath, he not only played metal but also helped create it. Albums like "Paranoid" and "Master of Reality" didn't simply scale the charts; they cleaved open the Earth for a genre that would bear his influence for generations.

He left Sabbath in 1979, unable to handle the pressure of addiction, but the fire continued to burn. The 1980 release of Blizzard of Ozz introduced the world to "Crazy Train" and kicked off a solo career that spanned more than four decades, 13 studio albums, and countless eye-popping stage moments, as well as one infamous bat incident.

But Ozzy was more than riffs and rage; but was also a father, a husband, and somehow a reality TV star. The Osbournes turned him into a household name all over again by showing a soft and hilarious underbelly of family life that had millions hooked from 2002 to 2005. That mix of chaos and heart turned Ozzy into more than just a rock star, a cultural icon.

Twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first with Sabbath in 2006, and again in 2024 as a solo act, Ozzy kept turning up, no matter how much darkness showed up with him. Parkinson's, emphysema, and a terrible fall in 2019. He took it all with stoicism and a devilish grin. Even when he was unable to tour, he'd find ways to surprise us, such as his 2022 Commonwealth Games event.

Ozzy's Collaborations with Post Malone to Wu-Tang Clan underscored his reach, and Ice-T once said he patterned his relationship with Coco after watching Sharon Osbourne keep the Osbourne empire on track.

Ozzy is survived by his wife, Sharon, as well as his children, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack, and two children from a previous marriage. He is survived by more than 100 million records sold, countless devil horns raised, and a world forever changed by his howl.